New TEDA details emerge
October 9, 2013
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October 9, 2013A string of emails between Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet and a Houma businessman illuminate the loss of faith Claudet has spoken of concerning the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.
But when told of the issues Claudet communicated about, TEDA officials said there was no lapse on their agency’s part.
Forms for a grant that would have helped Wilson Gaidry bring a new tenant to land he owns needed to be filled out by the tenant, TEDA executive director Steve Vassallo said. And state development officials, he added, specifically told him it had to be that way.
“I am truly sorry for the loss of the deal. Steve Vassallo with TEDA should have handled the improvements and assisted you,” Claudet’s Sept. 20 email to Gaidry states. “Is it completely lost? Please keep me advised.”
Gaidry had written that for over a year he had negotiated the contract for an oil storage and barge facility on his property.
Gaidry responded that some “insider trading” problems the potential lessee was having might have been the reason the deal didn’t go through but Claudet was undaunted and told parish officials in other communications that it appeared to be a TEDA shortcoming.
Vassallo said other criticisms of his agency are similar. Claudet has not responded to questions about that deal or other situations where he has found TEDA fell short of the mark.
Some parish council members say that while they might not understand all the issues Claudet has with TEDA the have faith in him.
And one thing clear to some is that Claudet appears steadfast in his mission to derail TEDA.
“If he wants to get something done he will stick by it all the way through,” said Councilman Pete Lambert.
Some TEDA supporters say that while they don’t doubt Claudet’s desire to do what is ultimately best for the parish, that they fear his anti-TEDA bent is the result of personality issues between some council members and Vassallo, caused in part by issues over his termination of socially and politically connected employees in 2012.
